The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1887-02-02
PICTORIAL METHODS.
EXTENT TO WHICH THEY ORE APP
Piled IN COMMERCE

A Great Extension of Illustrative Art
Wood Engraving-The Ruling Machine
Beautiful Work Done.
The extraordinary extent to which va
rious pictorial methods have been ap-
piled artistically for commercial purposes
is marked feature of the recent devel-
opment Of the industrial arts in this coun-
try. In nearly all departments Of ad-
verttsing by paper and ink, degree of
taste is required to-day, which a few
years ago, would have been considered
ridiculously extravagant. To a class of
work which formerly would have been
considered satisfactorily executed with
the meanest kind of paper and the rudest
Typography, an amount of care, taste and
expenditure is often devoted which would
be worthy the finest magazine work.
Some of the commercial catalogues got
ten out are so beautifully done that they
are eagerly sought by collectors; there
are great manufacturing concerns which
even spend from $50, 900 to $780, 600 in get
ting up an illustrated catalogue.
VARIOUS NEW PROCESSES.
The various new processes of ilustra-
ton have brought about great extension
of pictorial art and it's application to a
wood and steel engaving have likewise
seen a similar expansion, although it was
prophesied at one time that the new pro-
cesses would work their substantial eX-
tinction. But it seems TO be the rule that
the invention of new processes so en-
larges the field as to develop new uses for
the old ones, and cause an improvement
of the same This has notably been the
case with wood engraving, which, since
the invention of process work by the aid
of photography, has achieved a degree OF
delicacy of manipulation hardly dreamed
of before. 1t has therefore been applied
to new purposes for which prOcess-Work
would harry be available.
Akin to the new departure in wood en-
craving is that brought about in steel en-
craving by the uses found for the ruling
machine This art was most familiar in
its application to the production of copies
of famous paintings, often admired for re-
markable technical correctness in line
and stipple, but cold and lifeless that,
in connection with the black walnut and
hairclOth furniture of the era to which
they belonged, they sent a chilling shud-
der through the beholder as if Fremont
tory or the funeral ceremonies which
seemed TO be the ultimate design OF the
gloomy apartments with which they were
associated. Thence its uses ranged down
through the embellishments of subscrip-
ton volumes, town histories, and the
like, with portraits of various WORTHLESS
and local magnates, to the production of
bank-note work and visiting cards.
THE RULING MACHINE.
The ruling machine however, popular
lied the art through the cheapness and
facility with which the work was accom-
plished, and in the wood engraving, ena-
bled the easy production of effects which,
if attainable by the old means, were sell
dom, if ever, attained. While the pains
taking old engraver might be scornful of
the technique of the new work, it was I'M
deniable that effects of texture and at
mosphere rich velvety blacks, and deli
cate graduutiOnS were reached, together
with a warmth and sympathy which had
previously not been associated with steel
engraving. These effects were first no
ticed in humorous japanese like designs
which were highly popular a few years
ago, and which were among the
first applications of Japanese art prin-
ciples in the Occident. These came into
great demand for commercial work of va
riOUs kinds, such as programmes, dane
ing-cards, advertising circulars, etc, and
shown in Europe, were much admired as
examples of American art Since then,
steel engraving has been in steady de-
mand for such purposes, and in artistic
merit there has been a continued i'm
prOvements.
The beautiful work done for the recent
bankers convention is an instance of this
the simple elegance of the invitations,
with the two sides of the $50 gold piece on
the front, as the appropriate standard of
financial strength; and the exquisite
beauty of the menu cards for the banquet
at the Parker house, the main feature of
which was simple Japanese-Lke motive;
two birds sitting costly on branch. the
effect of the black and white heightened
and enriched by hand painting, with three
simple hues deftly and broadly applied;
subdued red and blue to the plumage and
some touches of green to the few leaves
on the bough, the whole making beau
tiful combination of delcacy, warmth
and simplicity of design, showing with
rare effect on the contrasting ground of
almost ivory like thick cardboard. On
the back was a medallion of Washington
with palm branches, fitting symbol of
integrity Herald.